A Forest Secured: 12,500 Acres Now Protected for Pangolins and People
In Kenya’s fragmented conservation landscape, good news rarely comes all at once. But this month, it did.
We’re thrilled to share that over 12,500 acres (5,000 hectares) of land in the Nyekweri ecosystem are now formally protected for the Giant Ground Pangolin and the countless other species that call this landscape home.
This milestone didn’t happen in a single day, or even a single year. It’s the result of patient, persistent collaboration with landowners, community leaders, conservancy teams, and supporters like you. And now, because of those partnerships, a future that once seemed uncertain is beginning to take shape.
176 Landowners. One Shared Vision.
What makes this milestone even more powerful is how it happened.
Rather than relying on land purchases or top-down decrees, we’ve partnered with 176 individual landowners, each making a conscious choice to dedicate their land to conservation- often balancing this with traditional land use and livelihood needs. Some are also participating in our forest payment schemes, committing to protect intact forests in exchange for sustainable ecosystem-based income.
Their decision is more than a legal agreement. It’s an act of trust.
Every lease signed is a promise- not just to pangolins, but to future generations.
Above Nyekweri Forest, capture by Tony Wild Studios
What We’ve Protected Together
The areas now under conservation span a unique mix of grassland, riverine habitat, and dry forest- including patches of the remnant Congo-Guinea forest, one of Kenya’s most biodiverse and least-protected ecosystems.
These 12,500 acres represent:
One of the last strongholds of the critically endangered Giant Ground Pangolin in Kenya
A calving ground for elephants and a sanctuary for giraffes, Weyns duiker, and civets
A vital watershed for the Migori River, sustaining farms, homes, and wildlife across western Kenya
And for the people of Nyekweri, they represent opportunity. Over 850 community members are now directly benefiting from conservation - through employment, lease income, or participation in ecosystem services.
From Fragments to Corridors: Why Connected Forests Matter
This milestone isn’t just about how much land has been protected- it’s about how it fits together.
Through careful collaboration with landowners and conservancies, we’re now beginning to link isolated parcels into a living corridor, one that species like pangolins, elephants, and giraffes can move through safely.
“As of this week, 5,050 hectares - that’s 12,475 acres is now protected through lease or MoU agreements. This is a massive achievement! The largest contiguous block of habitat we’ve secured is now 3,289 hectares (8,123 acres).”
This growing corridor gives wildlife the space they need to roam, feed, raise young, and adapt. It’s how we ensure that protected land doesn’t become an island, but instead becomes part of a connected ecosystem - one that breathes, flows, and regenerates.
Yes, the work continues. Our boundaries are still shifting. But in Claire’s words:
“Let us take 5 minutes or 5 seconds to pause and breathe and say: ‘Look how far we’ve come. And then we shall say: ‘What’s next?’”
Because every connected hectare opens the door to the next.
And together, we’re building a forest that holds.
We talk a lot about pangolins at The Pangolin Project. But really, we talk about what they represent: resilience, connection, and quiet transformation.
Each new lease. Each forest spared from charcoal burning or agricultural clearing. Each camera trap image of a pup or returning mother. These are the signs that something is working.
Conservation is often painted as crisis. And yes, the threats are real. But today, we choose to share something else: progress.
As one landowner recently told us,
“This forest still breathes. And that means hope.”
What’s Next
This isn’t the end of the story, it’s a turning point. And it comes with a new responsibility: to protect what’s now been secured.
The coming weeks will see the launch of our Power the Patrol campaign to support the ranger teams tasked with safeguarding these newly protected zones. Our community rangers are the heartbeat of Nyekweri and their work ensures every hectare remains safe, every lease honoured, and every pangolin monitored.
You’ll hear more soon, including how you can walk alongside them as they take on the Wildlife Ranger Challenge later this month.
But for now: we pause. We thank you. And we invite you to celebrate what we’ve built together.
